Statement from Chanté Coleman, director of the Choose Clean Water Coalition, on the Introduction of the Goodlatte Amendment

(Annapolis, MD) – Today, it is expected that Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) will introduce an amendment in the House to the Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill that will cripple the Chesapeake Bay restoration effort by removing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to enforce the Chesapeake clean up. Should this amendment pass, it would be detrimental to the progress that has been made across all seven jurisdictions in the Chesapeake watershed (Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, and the District of Columbia) to restore the Chesapeake and its rivers and streams.

In response, the Choose Clean Water Coalition is releasing this statement from Chanté Coleman, director of the Coalition.

“The Choose Clean Water Coalition is disappointed by the steps that Congressman Goodlatte has taken to hinder the continued progress to improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. While we continue to fight President Trump’s effort to eliminate all funding for the Bay, we need support from our watershed legislators, not attacks.

This amendment would revoke EPA’s authority to enforce the measures that the Bay states have agreed to and put their own investments toward. We encourage our legislators to vote against this harmful amendment, and continue to show their support for the important work that is being done to ensure safe and clean water for residents of our Chesapeake watershed.”

The Choose Clean Water Coalition is an organization that harnesses the collective power of 237 local, state, regional and national groups to advocate for clean rivers and streams in all communities in the Chesapeake region.